From Narita Airport to Central Tokyo

Introduction

When traveling into central Tokyo, the best option depends on where you are going—so your choice between the Keisei Line, JR lines, and limousine buses will change.

The most reliable place to check is your hotel’s official website.
On the hotel site’s Access(アクセス) page, check how to get from Narita Airport to the hotel, or search your destination on Google Maps to see which route is most efficient. Then use the information below as a guide.

Complete guide: Keisei Skyliner to the Main Line

京成線

The Keisei Line is divided into three main routes.

• Toward Keisei-Ueno: Aoto → Nippori Station → Keisei-Ueno
• Toward Nishi-Magome: Aoto → Oshiage → Asakusa → Shimbashi, etc.
• Toward Haneda Airport: Aoto → Oshiage → Shinagawa → Haneda Airport

Note that Keisei trains run only as far as Keisei-Ueno Station, which is in a different location from JR Ueno Station, so do not confuse the two. If you plan to transfer to JR lines, it is more convenient to transfer at the mid-stop Nippori Station instead of riding to the final station.

1) Keisei Main Line (Rapid Limited Express / Limited Express)

• Like a local railway line; IC cards can be used
• The cheapest option, but also the slowest (about 1 hour 15 minutes to Nippori, 1,060 yen)
• No service toward Ueno between 11:00 and 16:00

2) Access Express (アクセス特急)

• Like a local railway line; IC cards can be used
• Faster than the Rapid Limited Express (about 55 minutes to Nippori, 1,280 yen)
• Direct service to Haneda Airport
• Runs about every 40 minutes; most services go toward Nishi-Magome / Haneda Airport

3) Skyliner

• An all-reserved-seat limited express running about every 20 minutes
• The fastest option (about 40 minutes to Nippori, 2,580 yen)
• IC cards alone cannot be used; you must buy a separate limited express ticket
• Runs only toward Keisei-Ueno

4) Useful passes

🎫 Skyliner Discount Ticket

• Buy online to ride the Skyliner at a discounted price
• One-way ~~2,580 yen~~ → 2,310 yen
• Round-trip ~~5,160 yen~~ → 4,500 yen
• Children (ages 6 to 11) pay 50% of the adult fare
• Not valid on the Morningliner (rush hour), Eveningliner (rush hour), or the Cityliner (weekends and holidays only)
  • These trains usually take longer anyway, so you only need to make sure you choose the right service.

🚇 Skyliner & Tokyo Subway Ticket

• Add 400 yen to the round-trip discount ticket to get 24-hour access to Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway
• Children (ages 6 to 11) pay 50% of the adult fare
• Exchange locations: Skyliner ticket counters, SKYLINER & KEISEI INFORMATION CENTER

🚖 KEISEI SKYLINER & TEITO TAXI

• Includes one-way Skyliner + a taxi to hotels in 11 central Tokyo wards
• Price guide:
  • Zone A: 3,700 yen
  • Zone B: 5,200 yen
  • For 3 people: Zone A 1,250 yen per person, Zone B 1,750 yen per person
• Purchase & boarding: SKYLINER & KEISEI INFORMATION CENTER → taxi stand in front of Keisei-Ueno Station
• Capacity is up to 3 people (2 adults + 1 child), and up to 2 large suitcases
• Children (ages 6 to 11) add 1,150 yen

Narita Express: fast and easy access to the city

Narita Express - N'EX

• The official name is Narita Express, but it is commonly called N'EX.
• N'EX is a JR limited express with all-reserved seating
• About 53 minutes from Narita Airport Terminal 1 to Tokyo Station, 3,070 yen one-way, and 4,370 yen one-way to Yokohama
  • Toward Shinjuku: Narita T1 → T2 → Tokyo → Shinagawa → Shibuya → Shinjuku
  • Toward Ofuna: Narita T1 → T2 → Tokyo → Shinagawa → Yokohama → Ofuna
• After getting off, you can transfer to JR lines for free without exiting the ticket gates
• (Example) Narita → Ofuna → free transfer to Kamakura
• A round-trip ticket is much better value than two one-way tickets

• Timetable notes
  • On the airport timetable, “Ofuna-bound” and “Shinjuku-bound” trains may show the same departure time
  • They split at Tokyo Station, so if you ride without a seat reservation, you must check the direction/car section
  • If you have a reserved seat, you do not need to worry much

N'EX Tokyo Round-Trip Ticket

• Available only at Narita Airport Terminal 1 & 2 stations
• Round-trip travel is valid regardless of the departure station, including Tokyo, Shibuya, Shinjuku, etc.
• 5,000 yen round-trip, including Yokohama and Ofuna
• Foreign visitors only; passport required
• Both rides must be used within 14 days
• When boarding N'EX in the city, you can transfer to JR lines for free

How to use the N'EX round-trip ticket

• The machine issues two tickets (for airport departure + city departure)

• This is an unreserved-seat-only ticket, but there is no separate unreserved car, so you must sit in an empty seat in a reserved car
• If the seat holder arrives, you must give up the seat, so a seat reservation is strongly recommended. With the round-trip ticket, you can reserve a seat anytime at a reserved-seat ticket machine.

If you have lots of luggage: limousine buses to your hotel

Airport Limousine

The Airport Limousine Bus, operated by Tokyo Airport Transport, runs more than 660 services per day and mainly serves central Tokyo.

Because many routes stop in front of major hotels by area, it is a comfortable option when you have heavy luggage or are traveling with family.
(However, you must check in advance whether your hotel is on the route.)

• Narita Airport → Shinjuku Station West Exit: 3,200 yen one-way
• You can board directly even if you arrive at Terminal 3
• Up to 2 pieces of luggage per person
• QR boarding: buy, choose date and time → board with a QR code

Best budget option? Airport bus to Tokyo for 1,500 yen

Airport Bus TYO-NRT

Airport Bus TYO-NRT is a low-cost option from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station.
Fares are 1,500 yen one-way for adults and 650 yen for children. The price was raised in August 2004 from the previous 1,300 yen.

On average, about one bus per hour also goes to Ginza Station, and after getting off at Tokyo Station, you can easily connect to major areas in the city. 🚌

• For Narita Airport → city, you must buy the ticket in advance.
• For Tokyo Station → airport, you can board using an IC card.
• At Tokyo Station, you must buy a ticket with cash or credit card at the JR highway bus ticket shop.
• If your hotel is near Tokyo Station and you do not have much luggage, it can be a great-value choice.
• Late night and early morning (23:00–04:59) fares increase to 2,600 yen, so you must check the time.
• Luggage is limited to 1 suitcase per person, and boarding may be refused if you have more.

Narita Airport shuttle bus to Ikebukuro

The Narita Airport shuttle bus is a low-cost way to reach Ikebukuro Station for 1,900 yen one-way.
The child fare is 1,150 yen, and it applies when you book at least 24 hours in advance.

• Total travel time is about 80 minutes, making it convenient for getting into the city.
• A major advantage is that you can cancel for free even if you miss the bus. ⏰
• Online booking is available up to 10 minutes before departure, so late decisions are still fine.
• Luggage is limited to 1 suitcase per person, and boarding may be restricted if you exceed the limit.

Keisei bus: useful for travel to Chiba areas

The Keisei bus is a useful way to travel from Narita Airport to destinations in Chiba Prefecture.
It is especially efficient for areas located to the east of Tokyo, and fares are usually reasonable. 💡

• Routes: Makuhari Messe, Inage-Kaigan, Koiwa, Ichinoe, Kasai Station, and more
• One-way fares: Makuhari Messe 1,200 yen, Kasai Station 1,600 yen
• It is best to check routes and timetables in advance.